Shoe-lace fastener



(No Model.)

C. M. JOHNSON. SHGE LAGE FASTENER.

No. 483,764. PatentedOot. 4, 1892.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLAUDE M. JOHNSON, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

SHOE-LACE FASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,764, dated October4, 1892.

Application tiled February 2, 1892. Serial No. 420,068. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLAUDE M. JonnsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at LeX- ington, in the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky,have invented new and useful Improvements in String-Holdin g Clips forBoots, Shoes, and other Articles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel clip for securingthe end portion of a string employed to close the front or side openingof a boot or shoe, whereby a considerable length of shoe-string can beconveniently disposed of and securely held.

To accomplish this object, my invention consists, essentially, in thecombination of a base-plate having a longitudinal rib, the edge of whichis normally inclined downward in a direction from the outer to the innerend thereof, and a spring tongue or finger con nected with thebase-plate and acting to press a portion or portions of a shoe-stringagainst the inclined edge of the longitudinal rib.

The invention also consists of other features of construction andcombination or arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed,reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I isa detailed perspective view of the improved clip. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation showing the normal position of the tongue or finger-piece.Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing a Single portion of a shoe-stringheld by the spring-tongue and rib. Fig. 4 is a similar View showingseveral portions of the shoestring held by the spring-tongue and rib.Fig. 5 is a front plan View of the improved clip. Fig. G is alongitudinal central sectional view of the same, taken on the line aow,Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a front end elevation of the clip.

In order to enable those skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I will now describe the same in detail, referring to thedrawings, wherein-- The numeral I indicates a baseplate of any metal ormaterial suitable for the conditions required and provided with meansfor attaching it to a boot or shoe in juxtaposition to the upper edge ofthe ankle portion thereof. The base-plate is provided with a pair oflugs or supports 2,between which is arranged a spring tongue orfinger-piece 3, and the base-plato is also formed or otherwise providedwith a pair of parallel ribs 4, having their outer edges inclining in adownward direction toward the lugs 2. The spring-tongue or finger-piece3 is adapted to lie between the ribs, and consequently a shoe-string canbe conveniently introduced between the springtongue or finger piece andthe inclined edges 5 of the ribs 4. The inclined edges of the ribs areimportant elements and attain a new and useful result, in that theyrender it possible to hold several portions of a shoestring, as in Fig.4, as securely as a single portion, as in Fig. 3, whereby a considerablelength of shoe-string can be conveniently disposed of and properly heldafter a boot or shoe opening has been closed by pulling or drawing theshoe-string taut in the usual manner.

My improved clip is particularly designed for use in connection with theboot or shoe closure devices described and claimed in my application forLetters Patent tiled of even date herewith, Serial No. 420,062; butobviously the clip is adapted for use on any boot or shoe where ashoe-string is to be secured after the shoe-opening is closed by pullingor drawing the string taut.

I have described the base-plate of the clip as formed or otherwiseprovided with a pair of ribs 4, each having its outer or upper edge 5inclining downward toward the lugs 2; but I do not wish to be understoodas confining myself to a pair of ribs 4, as a single rib with aninclined edge 5 might be employed, although it would not prove 'entirelysatisfactory in practical use.

While the improved clip is specially designed for the shoe-string of aboot or shoe, it can be employed on gloves, corsets, and similararticles employing a string for effecting the closure of the article.

In prior string-holding clips when a portion of the string is insert-edbeneath the springtongue the space between the tongue and base-plate inadvance of that part of the string which is gripped is wider or greaterthan the string itself, and consequently several portions of the string,in addition to a portion already gripped, cannot be properly grippedbetween the spring-tongue and base. This is an objection whichy rendersit inconvenient and difcult to dispose of the long-end portion of astring; but by my invention such objection is avoided, in that a portionof the string inserted, as in Fig. 3, leaves the tonguepiece in advanceof such inserted part of they string in such relation to the outerinclined edge or edges 5 that several other portions of the stringr canbe separately introduced and securely held or gripped, as in Fig. 4. Inthis respect my construction differs substantially and materially fromall similar devices of which I am aware.

As shown in Fig. 1, the base-plate of the improved clip is provided withthread-holes 6 for attaching it to a boot,.shoe, or other article; butvarious means for attaching this base-plate can be employed, andconsequently I do notconfine myself to the use of threadholes;

The tongue or finger-piece 3 is composed of a fiat strip of. elasticmetal having one endV portion 7 brazed soldered, or otherwise securedtoit-he under side of the base-plate 1,. and then curved over thebase-plate, extended forward, as at 8, and rebent to provide the tongueor` finger-piece- 3. Theside lugs 2 prevent lateral.- displacement ofthe tongue or finger-piece 3, as well as the portion 8 of theelasticstrip of metal, and these lugs 2j also act as stops for theshoe-string to prevent the latter being pulled to such extent that. itwould pass to the free end portion of t-he tongue or linger-piece 3. Thebase-plate 5 is also constructed with a longitudinal ledge 9, having'abeveled front end, 10, and arranged. centrally between the parallel ribs4. The upper edge of the ledge 9 is inclined substantially the sameasthe upper edge of the ribs 4, and, consequently when a shoe-string isintroduced under the tongue or finger-piece 3 such string will begrippedbetweenthe tongue or finger-piece and the ledge 9, aswell asbetween the tongue or finger-piece and the outer inclined edgesV E theribs 4. This construction insures the proper retention of the stringunder all circumstances.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. A clip forholding the string of a boot, shoe, or other article, consisting of abaseplate provided with a longitudinal rib 4, the edge 5 of which isnormally inclined downward in a direction from the outer to the innerend thereof, and a spring-tongue or iinger 3, connected with thebase-plate and acting to pressa portion or portions of the stringagainst the inclined edge of the longitudinal rib, substantially asdescribed.

2. Aclip for holding the string of a boot, shoe, or other article,consisting of a baseplate I, provided with a pair of longitudinal lribs4, the edges 5 of which normally incline downward in a direction fromvthe outer to the inner ends thereof,- and aspring-tongue or linger3cornposed of an elastic strip of metal rigidly secured at one extremitytothe base-plate and acting to pressa portion or -fportions of thestring against the inclined edges of the longitudinal ribs,substantially as described.

3. A clip for holding the stringV of` a boot, shoe, or otherv article,consisting of a baseplate provided with a pair of longitudinal ribs 4and an intermediate longitudinal ledge 9, the edgeof each of whichinclines downward in a direction from the outer to the inner endthereof, and a spring-tongue or iinger-piece 3, connected with thebase-plate and acting to press a portion` or portions of the stringagainst theinclinededges of the longitudinal; ribs and ledge,substantially as-'described. 4

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal inpresence of two subscribing witnesses.v

CLAUDE M. JOHNSON. [1.. s]

Witnesses:

ALBERT H. NoRRIs, J AMES A. RUTHERFORD.

